Month: November 2012

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Taking Propecia After Gynecomastia Surgery? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is it safe to take propecia after getting gynecomastia surgery? I am scheduled to get surgery for gynecomastia that I got during puberty and not from propecia use but I am worried that if I take the medication after the surgery I am putting myself at risk of the drug causing breast swelling and tenderness

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I do not know your personal medical history, so this is a question that you need to ask your doctor. If you choose to take Propecia or any other medication, you would need to be monitored by a doctor who can follow up with you regarding side effects and risks. Propecia has a known rare side effect that can cause gynecomastia. If you already have gynecomastia (without Propecia), I do not know how the drug will affect it.

Generally, in our experience, this has been a difficult problem to address. If you balance the risk against the reward, only you can make this decision. Many people with gynecomastia can be treated with surgery alone (often just a lump) and the problem goes away, but not always. Thus, you will need a close follow-up with your doctor.

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Borage Oil as a Hair Loss Treatment? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve heard that borage oil, taken either orally or topically, can help with hair loss, and I don’t see any posts about that here yet. What is your opinion? I’m a guy in my early 30s with mild hair loss, diagnosed by my dermatologist as MPB.

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Borage (also known as starflower oil) is used by herbalists to treat PMS issues in women. At least, that’s what I found via Google… because I wasn’t familiar with it.

It’s just another herbal treatment that some people claim can treat hair loss. It doesn’t. There’s no herbal treatment that I’ve found to treat MPB anywhere near the claims people make. If you decide to use this to treat your genetic hair loss, that’s your call to make — but don’t be too shocked when your thinning continues.

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Hair Loss InformationDo I Have Cobblestoning In the Recipient Area 10 Weeks After FUE Surgery? (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr,

I had an FUE surgery performed around 10 weeks ago in Europe. However, my hair transplant Dr has not been very helpful in post-patient care. Because of my concerns, I have since become quite depressed and worried about the future success of the transplant.

So I now I hope you can assist me, being on the other side of the world, there are few people here available that could help (I am from Australia). Specifically, do you think I have cobblestoning in my recipient area? Or a nasty case of follicultis? I have sensitive skin and it has stayed pink since surgery, so I was hoping you could address some of my concerns through the attached images.

If so, what recommendations could you make to removing the redness and/or follicultus/red dots?

Also, are the little pits around the hairs normal that are trying to break out? Do these go away with time? There are some dark hairs breaking through and lots of light blonde ones too.

Thank you very much for your help. Feel free to use my pictures.

Thanks

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If you have issues after a hair transplant surgery (or any surgery) you need to follow up with your doctor/surgeon. In your case, you traveled to another continent for your surgery, but you should be able to email some photos to your doctor and speak with him/her over the phone. It’s unfortunate that your doctor hasn’t been helpful to you after your procedure.

In general, redness and folliculitis can develop with any hair transplant surgery and sometimes it just needs a good physician follow-up. This may involve something as simple as warm compresses, to something like a course of antibiotics. The reddened areas can persist for a few months on rare occasions.

I suspect you may be overreacting, but to find out exactly what is going on, an examination by a doctor is your best bet. You can always get a second opinion (visit the physician search at ISHRS.org for other doctors in Australia).

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I’ve Been Taking Finasteride for a Year and Had No Baselines Done – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,

I would like to request your insight into my situation. I am a 20 year old male and have been on finasteride 1.25mg and minoxidil 2% for one year now. I went to my doctor at the age of 19 requesting finasteride for minor hair thinning. I had not yet lost any hair, or even had any major thinning, but my scalp was visible in the front to middle area of my head under moderate lighting. I have also been expecting to lose my hair for a few years now because of a horrible family history; father, both grandfathers, and all biological uncles but one have progressed to NW5+. My doctor agreed based on sight that there was initial thinning and she prescribed. But I have not ever taken any actual photos or measurements of my hair.

Now, one year later, I am unable to tell by the naked eye whether there has been any improvement or not. Essentially, I seem to have basically the same full hair that I had last year, with maybe some minor thinning visible under the right lighting. I have had no side effects on the medications and I continue to use them.

What would you recommend I do at this point? I know that you do not give medical advice online, but this is more of a procedural question. Is it worth continuing both medications if I am uncertain that they have even been needed at all? Should I try to take some measurements now to gauge my hair loss progress for the future? I am not aware of any doctors in my community, in Hamilton Ontario, who perform bulk measurements or miniaturization tests.

Thanks a lot. All the best.

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Did you ever receive a diagnosis of androgenic alopecia? I mean, do you even have actual balding or did you get prescribed a medication base on your insecurity? Almost everyone has their scalp visible under moderate lighting, but that doesn’t mean you’re necessary losing hair. Taking a life-long medication like finasteride without a good diagnosis just because you have a fear of balding is not good common sense.

At this point, I would voice your concerns with your doctor. If that does not help, I would find another doctor for a second opinion.

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I Added Biotin to My Regimen, But It Made My Forehead Oily – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

i recently added to 5mg Biotin to my regimen (i’m on Finasteride since 14 months, for maintaining). However i noticed that Biotin made my forehead so oily after 6-7 days of Biotin usage. i took biotin for 12 days, then i thought Biotin could cause sebum on my skin so i decided to give up on it. then my skin returned to normal conditions and dont have any sebum any more.

i need something which can speed up growth of my hairs and nails, also considering my nails are weak and grows late. Would you please advice me something instead of Biotin? or i should decrease the dosage and continue on Biotin, such as 5mg for 3-4 days?

Thanks in advance.

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Thanks for sharing your experience. If your side effects from biotin supplement produces oily skin, the simplest thing would be to stop using it. I do not know of any supplements in medical literature that have been proven to make hair grow. If you’re on finasteride already, have you talked to your prescribing doctor about this?

I’ve written my thoughts about biotin being used as a hair loss treatment here, and my advice is “buyer beware”.

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Hair Cream and a Lack of Specifics – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Is using hair cream good for a young man going bald good?and is afro american good for my type of hair.

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I get questions like this from time to time, but I have no idea what you’re referring to as “hair cream”. Perhaps it is a language barrier, but you’ll need to be more specific as to what product you’re talking about. Some creams are good for hair to keep the looking vibrant or for styling, but I don’t know of a cream that treats a balding young man (even though I’m not even sure of your age).